An Albion man, like his partner, was hit with a lengthy term in federal prison for taking sexually explicit photos of three girls to sell on the Internet, including images showing the victims with a price chart behind them.

Author:
John Hogan

Published:
1:01 PM EST November 30, 2016

Updated:
5:43 PM EST November 30, 2016

An Albion man, like his partner, was hit with a lengthy term in federal prison for taking sexually explicit photos of three girls to sell on the Internet, including images showing the victims with a price chart behind them.

Numerous photos and videos were taken, but only a few made it to market. The sexual exploitation of children, coupled with possession of child porn, earned Normann Robert Pittelkow more than 22 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.

Pittelkow also took a hit in the pocketbook. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Holmes Bell on Tuesday, Nov. 29 ordered that he pay $20,000 in restitution to help the girls with mental health services. He and Nicole Renee Jacob, his co-defendant and common-law wife, had custody of the girls.

“The minors need counseling now and into the future as a result of Pittelkow’s offenses against them,’’ Assistant U.S. Attorney Tessa K. Hessmiller wrote in a restitution memorandum. The girls specifically asked for restitution from Pittelkow, court records show.

Evidence against Pittelkow, 42, includes images showing the three girl posing nude with Jacob standing in the background holding up a sign with prices on it. The government also has videos of him talking about start-up costs associated with getting websites established.

Jacob, 35, was sentenced in late October to 15 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child. The pair were charged in Oct. 2015; they’d been together for 14 years, court records show.

“Pittelkow sold some of these images and videos to people he met online,’’ Hessmiller wrote in the restitution memorandum.

He could fetch $3 for every 20 pictures of one of the girls trying on different underwear and bras and $15 to $20 “if you’re willing to play with yourself,’’ Pittelkow told one of the victims, according to court records.

“It’s going to cost like $400 to get these websites up, alright?’’ he told one of the girls after setting up a video camera and leaving her in a room with a pile of underwear and instructions to “get naked’’ and “don’t be afraid,’’ court records show.

Albion police got involved in fall, 2015 when one of the victims told a friend that Pittelkow was taking sexually explicit photos. Police used a search warrant to enter the couple’s home and collect evidence.

Sexual exploitation of a child is punishable by a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years. Possession of child pornography carries a 10-year term.

In a five-page letter to the judge, Pittelkow says he's been taking Bible classes while locked up and hopes to one day become a pastor.

“I understand that I have already been forgiven by God but I also know I broke the law and have to answer for my guilt,’’ he wrote. “The public will be protected because I will be open with my story through Christ.’’